South Korea and the United States concluded their third round of negotiations to determine Seoul’s share of the cost for stationing the 28,500-strong U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) on Wednesday, the chief U.S. negotiator said, casting them as “productive.”
Seoul’s chief negotiator, Lee Tae-woo, and Linda Specht, U.S. lead negotiator for security agreements at the State Department, led the three-day talks in Washington over a cost-sharing deal, called the Special Measures Agreement (SMA), as the current six-year SMA is set to expire at the end of next year.
“The delegations from the United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK) again conducted productive discussions, identifying areas of agreement and issues requiring careful consideration, as we continue working toward a mutually acceptable agreement that supports our shared security,” Specht said in a statement.
“These consultations reflect the enduring strength of, and our commitment to, the U.S.-ROK Alliance, which undergirds peace and prosperity for the Korean and American people,” she added.
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20240613000800315?section=national/defense